Tourist tip #62 / Over-the-counter medicines

Basic painkillers and medicines can't be had at most grocery stores, only at pharmacies and some supermarkets.

Getting stuck with a splitting headache or a sore throat is a sure-fire way to put a damper on your day, especially if you have a lot of sightseeing ahead. In Israel you can only buy over-the-counter medicine at pharmacies and at certain supermarkets, so don’t count on simply popping into a mom & pop grocery store or kiosk to pick up painkillers.

This shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you’re out and about on weekdays. Pharmacies abound. As for the nights and weekends, each city has a pharmacy on duty.

To find where an open pharmacy is during these off-hours, dial 106 from any local phone. Wherever in Israel you may be, that will connect you to the closest local authority. If you're in Haifa, for instance, dialing 106 will get you the local city hall, where they have information about open drugstores.